Shape-controllable synthesis of self-assembly cu/cu2o and their morpholgy-dependent photocatalytic properties

Cu/Cu2O nanocomposites (NCs) with different self-assembly structure were successfully synthesized by a facile template-free hydrothermal method with (CH3COO)(2)Cu center dot H2O as a precursor, and N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and ethanol (Et) as solvents. The flowerlike structure was formed by a only with DMF as solvent. By using DMF/Et (1:1) as solvent, hollow spheres were obtained. Cu/Cu2O octahedra were formed by the volume ratio of DMF and Et was 1:2. If little amount of water (DMF/Et/H2O 1:2:0.05) was added further, hollow cubes were formed. The samples were used as photocatalysts in the degradation of phenol under visible-light illumination. The flowerlike Cu/Cu2O NCs exhibit much higher degradation rate than other structures. For Cu/Cu2O NCs with different morphology, excellent performance exists in a certain range of Cu content, i.e., 15 similar to 70%, the main role of metal Cu was to scavenge the photogenerated electrons leading to an improvement in charge separation with respect to pure Cu2O alone. From an application point of view, this Cu/Cu2O NCs shows a high practical interest in their potential application for the processing of pollutants.